Settling in · Garlinge
Landing in Garlinge? Start here.
The first fortnight in Garlinge, in order: the paperwork that has to happen, then the places that make it feel like somewhere you could stay.
Week one and two
The order to do things in
1
Ring your Sama contact when you land
Whoever placed you. Tell them you arrived and that you are all right.
2
Apply for your National Insurance number
You can start work before it arrives, but do not leave it: your tax will be wrong until you have it.
3
Open a bank account
Passport, visa or share code, and proof of address. A letter from your employer usually does it.
4
Get a UK SIM
A local number makes the bank and the GP straightforward.
5
Register with a GP
Free at the point of use. Do it in your first week.
6
Check your tax code with HMRC
Get on the right code early or you will be paying too much for months.
7
Save your share code
You will be asked to prove your right to work and rent more than once.
8
Find the nearest shop, place of worship and club
The part that decides whether you stay, and the part no handbook covers.
Official, and free
Official finders
Run by the State, so they stay current. Search each one for your own town.
Find a GPThe NHS list of GP surgeries, searchable by postcode.Apply for a National Insurance numberYou need one to be taxed correctly. Apply once you are in the UK.Find an NHS dentistHarder than the GP. Start early and ring around.Check your visa and BRP or eVisaView and prove your immigration status online.Find your local police stationEmergency is 999 or 112. Non-emergency is 101.Understand your tax codeCheck what HMRC thinks you earn, so you are not overtaxed for months.Driving on a foreign licenceHow long you may drive on it, and whether it can be exchanged.Renting: know the rulesYour rights as a tenant, deposit protection and what a landlord may and may not do.Citizens AdviceFree, independent help with anything at all.Public transportNational rail and bus times and tickets.
Near you
79 places in Garlinge worth knowing in week one
From OpenStreetMap, the map that locals build, plus places our team knows. Every card has a map link. If one has closed or moved, WhatsApp us and it comes down.
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Places of worship
Every faith near you, listed so people can find a community when they arrive. Sama Talent Group is not affiliated with any religion or religious organisation.
Churches
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Union Crescent, Margate, CT9 1NS
About 2 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
167A High Street, Ramsgate, CT11 9TT
About 6 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Al-Birr Community Centre and Mosque
Muslim, Sunni
Union Crescent, Margate, CT9 1NR
About 2 km away
Synagogues
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Canterbury
About 22 km away
Canterbury Umbrella Centre, 22 St. Peter's Place, Canterbury, Canterbury, CT1 2DB
Worship services: Thu 6:30pm
Addresses and worship service times from the Iglesia ni Cristo directory, checked October 2026. Times can change, so check the locale's own page before you go. directory.iglesianicristo.net
Shops from home
EHIS Afro-Caribbean Groceries
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-18:00; Fr,Sa 09:00-18:30
150 Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 2QN
About 3 km away
International Mini Market
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
200A Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 2QU
About 3 km away
Pha-Chen-Roen Thai Supermarket (Formerly Dress Circle)
Supermarket
55 Station Road, Thanet, CT7 9RE
About 3 km away
Food and takeaways
Flavours by Kumar
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:30-22:00
176 Canterbury Road, Margate, CT9 5JW
Westbrook Cafe
Coffee shop, sandwich, turkish. cafe. Hours: Mo,We-Sa 08:00-17:00; Tu off; Su 09:00-17:00
107 Canterbury Road, Margate, CT9 5AX
Margate Indian Spice
Indian. restaurant
2A Tivoli Road, Thanet, CT9 5SF
About 2 km away
Secret Spices
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 18:00-23:00; Fr 18:00-23:30; Sa 12:00-14:30,18:00-23:30; Su 12:00-14:30,18:00-22:30
104 Ramsgate Road, Margate, CT9 4BH
About 2 km away
Dive
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th off; Fr 17:30-23:00; Sa 13:00-16:00,17:30-23:00; Su 11:00+
6 Harbour Arm Stone Pier, Margate, CT9 1AP
About 2 km away
The Peking
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: We-Su 17:00-23:00
83 Upper Dane Road, Margate, CT9 2LZ
About 3 km away
Sports and clubs
Hornets Boxing Club
Boxing. Sport club. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-14:00
18 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, CT12 5EU
About 4 km away
Basketball court
Basketball, soccer. Pitch
Blue Wave Hydrotherapy
Swimming. Sports centre
Victoria Road, Margate, CT9 1NA
About 3 km away
Saint Lawrence Bowls Club
Bowls. Sport club
Park Road, Ramsgate, CT11 9TL
About 6 km away
Hartsdown Leisure Centre
Gymnastics, swimming. Sports centre
Hartsdown Park Road, Margate, CT9 5QY
Margate Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Tivoli Park Avenue, Margate, CT9 5TH
About 2 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Camo's Carp Cabin
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Mo-We,Fr,Sa 08:00-17:00; Th 08:00-21:00; Su 08:00-12:00
About 6 km away
Community and support groups
Broadstairs Masonic Hall
Community centre
5-7 Alexandra Road, Thanet, CT10 1EP
About 6 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Curly and wavy hair
Barbers and salons
M Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 10:00-17:30; Tu off; We 17:00-21:00; Th off; Fr,Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
50 Canterbury Road, Margate, CT9 5BG
Razor's Edge
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:30
1 Arthur Road, Margate
About 3 km away
Hassan Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
148 Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 2QN
About 3 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Newington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:30; Tu,Sa 09:00-13:00
Marlowe Way, Ramsgate, CT12 6FA
About 4 km away
Margate Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:30; Sa 10:00-15:30
Cecil Street, Margate
About 2 km away
Birchington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Alpha Road, Thanet, CT7 9EH
About 4 km away
Westgate Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Minster Library & Neighbourhood Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:00-17:00; Tu,Sa 09:30-13:30; Th 12:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-16:00
4a Monkton Road, Thanet, CT12 4EA
About 5 km away
Broadstairs Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
The Broadway, Thanet, CT10 2BS
About 6 km away
Ramsgate Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,We,Fr 09:30-17:30; Th 09:30-16:30; Sa 09:30-15:30
Guildford Lawn, Ramsgate
About 6 km away
Palace Cinema
Cinema. Hours: "whenever films are shown"
Harbour Street, Thanet, CT10 1ET
About 6 km away
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. We do not make places up: if the map has it wrong, fix it on openstreetmap.org and it comes through at the next refresh.
Saving money
What locals use to spend less
The shops and sites people here use for cheap clothes, second-hand furniture, a car, and the weekly shop. We are not paid to list any of them.
Facebook Marketplace and GumtreeSecond-hand furniture, bikes, tools and cars, often for very little. Meet in public, and never pay before you see it.Freecycle and OlioThings people give away for free, and food from neighbours and shops that would otherwise go in the bin.Too Good To GoSurprise bags of food from cafes, bakeries and supermarkets at the end of the day, at a fraction of the price.PrimarkCheap everyday clothes, work basics and bedding.Aldi and LidlThe cheapest big supermarkets for the weekly shop.B&M and Home BargainsCleaning products, kitchen kit and household bits for less.Charity shopsClothes, coats and furniture, and the money goes to a good cause.MoneySavingExpertFree guides to cheaper phones, energy, bank accounts and sending money.
Getting around
Getting around from Garlinge
TravelineBus, coach and train times for the whole of Great Britain.National RailTrain times, tickets and railcards.Transport for LondonThe Tube, buses and the Oyster and contactless fares.
Driving here on your licence
Once you live in Great Britain you can drive a car or motorcycle on your full, valid licence for 12 months. After that, a licence from a designated country can be exchanged for a GB licence; from other countries you apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests. Lorries, minibuses and buses have stricter rules: check before you drive one.
Check your licence on GOV.UK Exchange a licence
Hiring a car
Each rental company sets its own rules on age, how long you have held your licence and which licences it accepts, and young drivers often pay more. Check those rules before you book, and bring your licence and passport to the desk.
Driving rules taken from the official pages linked above, checked October 2026. They change, so the official page is the one to rely on.
While you are here